"Ugliest bastard stepchildren," "pinching my nose"

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/5/2007 6:54:40 AM

No, those quotes are not some overheated rhetoric from RK.  To the contrary, they come directly from lawmakers who voted FOR the transportation "compromise" yesterday.  According to the Washington Post:

in the Senate, where the plan passed 29 to 9, those who voted for it said they did so with a heavy heart. "I'm voting with my eyes wide open but pinching my nose," said Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath). He and others were concerned that the final plan still relied too heavily on the general fund and were worried about issuing $3 billion in bonds.

Wow, that's a ringing endorsement, huh?  And then there's this:

"I have characterized [the bill] . . . as being one of the ugliest bastard stepchildren that this General Assembly's ever reported out," said Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City). "But I do have the expectation that this infantile effort will continue to mature.

Gee, and those are the SUPPORTERS of the plan.  I'd hate to hear what the OPPONENTS have to say.  Ha.

P.S. Gov. Kaine's reaction is here.

Comments



Let the spinning begin (novamiddleman - 4/5/2007 7:49:02 AM)
But remember nobody forced anyone to vote for this bill

Both of theses comments sound like wining to me.  Guess what you can't have it both way.  Grow some spines politicians. As my limited respect for these people continues to decrease REGARDLESS of party 



Holding one's nose and voting for something (Lowell - 4/5/2007 7:51:15 AM)
anyway, because it's the least bad alternative, is a time-honored American tradition.  Same thing with people trying to "have it both ways."  In fact, I believe it's more generally known as "politics," wherever it's practiced. 


Virginia needs $105 billion through 2025 (Lowell - 4/5/2007 8:26:46 AM)
According to this analysis, Virginia needs $74 billion through 2025 for highway transportation improvements and $31 billion for needed transit improvements.  THat's $105 billion total over 18 years, or roughly $5.8 billion per year.

How much does the current transportation bill provide?  According to AP reporter Bob Lewis, "The governor's amendments make a total of about $1.2 billion available annually for transportation and authorize $3 billion in transportation bonds."

Virginia's Transportation Needs:  $5.8 billion per year.
Money Provided by Transportation Bill: $1.2 billion per year, plus $3 billion (total, not per year) in bonds (e.g., borrowing...has to be paid back). 
Bottom Line:  We're not even close, and this was the best we could accomplish in decades.  Get ready for years more gridlock, everyone!



And Albo Thinks We're Done for the Next 30 Years! (Albo Must Go - 4/5/2007 9:17:10 AM)
Read all about it here:

http://albomustgo.bl...

Spin, spin, spin (some people might even call it lying).



Word Lowell (Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr. - 4/5/2007 9:21:30 AM)
That's right Lowell.  That plan has been out there and was commissioned by Gov. Warner before the big fight in his term, but no one wants to read it.  If you remember, they were also trying to push through a big transportation funding measure at the same time they were doing the GF increase but the GOP went into heart failure.  Thanks for being the second person to cite to it after me! 

AMG - Albo is the King of Spin.  He did a mail piece accusing Werkheiser of proposing income taxes that Werk never even uttered and he's always trying to manipulate the debate through the media.  I applaud you guys for taking him on and trying to keep him honest.